Proverbs 3:5-8 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones."

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The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Prayer's Inner Chamber by Andrew Murray

Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions

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My NEW Blog is: www.beggarlybouquet.com -- I am not famous. My parents are not famous. My grandparents are not famous. In fact, the only famous person in our family line might be the western outlaw: Belle Starr. But something my great-grandparents, grandparents, and now my parents have passed down to me is the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. This blog is a small effort on my part to pass what I am learning as I follow after Him on to you, and to use what He has given me to bring glory to His name.
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Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Pray, Pray, Pray!

Philippians 4:6-7"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

I've been thinking again! (Muahahahaha!) Yesterday I was at some friends' house hanging out. Eventually another friend stopped by to hang out as well! We had a grand time, and, while talking, my mom asked this friend what they thought of a job offer they had been given. Then this friend said something along the lines of, "It's been going alot better since I finally just stopped and prayed about it for the first time." Later that day, we all just had a time of prayer, and my mom prayed that we would all see that every decision we make shapes our future, and that we would take those decisions to God. And, yes, as usual...that made me think.

EVERY decision we make, no matter how small, or insignificant it may seem, shapes our futures. From deciding whether to buy a new car, or go to a camp, deciding whether to take a job or keep looking...deciding whether to stay at home, go to college, or set out for new horizons...each and EVERY decision shapes our futures! And, when we come to God for guidance, it is HE who determines and shapes our futures, because we have surrendered it to Him. Of course, I SO OFTEN go through my days worrying about all of these little decision...whether I should graduate early to help my dad's work, whether I should go to NCFCA regionals, whether I should write a fiction book or a non-fiction book - whether I should even waste the time to write a book in the first place, what I am going to do after I graduate, whether I am ever going to go to cosmetology school...and dozens of other decisions, and worries about things that I don't even need to worry about yet! The answer? Pray. Who am I that I should think I know better than God does? Before I get bogged down with decisions and choices, I need to get on my knees and ask for guidance and direction. God is the creator of everything and the master of the universe - surely he knows the way in which I should go!

Nehemiah 9:12"By a pillar of cloud you led them in the day, and by a pillar of fire in the night to light for them the way in which they should go."

The Bible is God's very words, spoken to us - so when we need direction, the Bible can be our compass.

An excerpt from that excellent old book - Pilgrim's Progress:

Now night being come again, and the giant (Dispair) and his wife being in bed, she asked him concerning the prisoners, and if they had taken his counsel: to which he replied, "They are sturdy rogues; they choose rather to bear all hardships than to make away with themselves." Then said she, "Take them into the castle-yard to-morrow, and show them the bones and skulls of those that thou hast already dispatched, and make them believe, ere a week comes to an end, thou wilt tear them in pieces, as thou hast done their fellows before them."

So when the morning was come, the giant goes to them again, and takes them into the castle-yard, and shows them as his wife had bidden him. "These," said he, "were pilgrims, as you are, once, and they trespassed on my grounds, as you have done; and when I thought fit I tore them in pieces; and so within ten days I will do you: get you down to your den again." And with that he beat them all the way thither. They lay, therefore, all day on Saturdayin a lamentable case, as before. Now, when night was come, and when Mrs. Diffidence and her husband the giant(Dispair)was got to bed, they began to renew their discourse of their prisoners; and withal, the old giant wondered that he could neither by his blows nor counsel bring them to an end. And with that his wife replied, "I fear," said she, "that they live in hopes that some will come to relieve them; or that they have picklocks about them, by the means of which they hope to escape." "And sayest thou so, my dear?" said the giant; "I will therefore search them in the morning."Well, on Saturday, about midnight they began to pray, and continued in prayer till almost break of day.

Now, a little before it was day, good Christian, as one half amazed, brake out into this passionate speech: "What a fool, quoth he, am I, thus to lie in a stinking dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty! I have a key in my bosom, called Promise, that will, I am persuaded, open any lock in Doubting Castle." Then said Hopeful, "That is good news; good brother, pluck it out of thy bosom, and try."

Then Christian pulled it out of his bosom, and began to try at the dungeon-door, whose bolt, as he turned the key, gave back, and the door flew open with ease, and Christian and Hopeful both came out. Then he went to the outward door that leads into the castle-yard, and with his key opened that door also. After he went to the iron gate, for that must be opened too; but that lock went desperately hard, yet the key did open it. They then thrust open the gate to make their escape with speed; but that gate, as it opened, made such a creaking, that it waked Giant Despair, who hastily rising to pursue his prisoners, felt his limbs to fail, for his fits took him again, so that he could by no means go after them. Then they went on, and came to the King’s highway, and so were safe, because they were out of his jurisdiction.So, you see, that the Promise is always near us, we just have to remember it, grab hold of it, and cling fast to it..and It will set us free from doubting!

John 8:36"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

All I can say, is pray, pray, pray! Make your time with God the PRIORITY of your day. So many times, things can seem more important than reading our Bibles or praying, but if we don't spend time with God - our FOUNDATION - the rest of us will crumble away. Don't say, "Oh, I'll get to it later." but cultivate a hunger and thirst after God and His Word, and run after Him with all your heart. He will uphold you, and provide a light for your path - even He only shows you one step at a time.

Matthew 6:31-33

"Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."